How to increase milk supply?

daphne_descends

My post is not giving advice on diet. It is saying that a poor diet does not produce poor quality milk.

See here http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-diet.html

I ate barely a thing for the first 3 weeks following the birth. I felt constantly nauseous. It was awful but I still produced lots and lots of perfect milk. Everyone should eat well so they feel well but your body will produce breastmilk regardless.

TeaTree6

Moneypanicker - I just wanted to say having fed 4 children that they are definately all different and you really need to follow your instincts that there is nothing wrong with your baby. It is difficult to increase time on the breast when you have other children but it might be worth considering a sling which means you can feed hands-free and get on with other things (only once you have established feeding though as trying to do too much WILL reduce supply!). IT also worth noting that you shouldn't express unless you really need to in the first few weeks as it does affect milk production. If you're finding it hard to eat enough/drink enough it may be worth putting a days worth of food/snacks ready the night before/the morning or even better get someone to leave some for you! You can then eat your food whilst baby has theirs! Anyway, I've waffled enough so good luck and stick to your guns (I would consider the mentioning the GMC to the GP in question by the way)

nadnad

People are starting to snipe at each other (bf topics are so emotive)- thats not what the OP needs, - she needs support.

Just another wee thing I thought of - Moneypanicker make sure that every time you feed the baby you take a big glass of water at the same time, then you can be sure you're drinking enough. I know every time i fed baby in the early days I got so thirsty.

As regards diet - make sure you eat often to keep your strength up because BF really does sap your energy - especially as you have other kids taking it out of you too! I know its important to eat healthily but for the first wee while i was just eating what i could be bothered to make and I guess as long as your not feasting on crisps and chocolate all day you'll be fine.

Welshlassie

You have said that your milk supply seems lower in the evenings, is this because baby is wanting feeding more? My DS was the same and for the first 6-8 weeks plus all I seemed to do in the evenings was feed, 2-3 hours at a time sometimes, but as a result he would sleep for 6-7-8 hours after before waking up for his next feed. I though my supply was dwindling, but realised he was probably just topping himself up for a good sleep.

You sound like you are doing a great job, try to take some of the "advice" you are getting from your helath team with a pinch of salt and don't be pressured into anything you are not happy doing, get a second opinion if needs be. I also found the NCT BF support groups invaluable and doubt I would have continued feeding as long as I did (I stopped last week DS is almost 17 months old) without their initial support.

moneypanicker

Milk does still seem to be low in the evenings but baby will sleep for 7 hours so i guess it's not that bad!!

I went back to gp armed with research about my medication and we chatted for 25 minutes he said he was pro breastfeeding just didn't want to harm me or the baby in any way! i guess he was just being cautious. I am still on the medication as have been informed by other sources that it is fine to take.

As for my baby's weight gain he certainly seems to me that he is growing he weights a tonne!! I'm not convinced that his birth weight was right as the midwife took 10 minutes to weigh him (could not work the scales) i thought he was much smaller than my other child who was 9 ozs lighter. HV is coming again on Friday to weigh so i'll find out then. I've only given 2 feeds of formula and that was when i was getting sore from all the sucking!!!

Thanks all for support

nadnad

thanks for the update. i hope it all goes well for you and the little one, i'm sure he'll pack on the ounces in his own good time. take care of yourself.

Krystaltips

Really glad you went back to the GP armed with information. Its all good and well him saying he just wants to protect you and your baby but the best way of doing this is by breastfeeding

Lots of babies 'cluster feed' in the evenings, it's not that your supply is low, it's just the way they are... Some info here

pickle

Firstly, the charts which are in the red books are incorrect for breastfed babies (or so I've been told by a health visitor). The World Health Organisation has a chart specifically for breastfed babies which is the correct one and was given to me by one of the health visitors I saw. Breastfed babies do not put on weight like bottlefed babies. If the baby is suckling properly they should take what they need unless there is a proven problem in your supply or the baby has a health problem of some kind. If you really want to increase supply then express as well. I had to express recently as my baby was in hospital and it takes a few weeks (in my experience) to get a good supply going, and this was including getting up 4 hourly as well during the night to express. I found once the baby was home the supply increased massively (but they are a big drinker!) as they are more efficient.

geekgirl

If you are getting a little sore use some nipple cream like Lansinoh (sp?). Well done on sticking with it, my milk supply always seemed low in the evening but it wasn't low it was that the feeds had caught up with the supply, therefore boobs were humongous in the morning as it had built up a fair bit by then.

Good luck.